As Raditz stepped into the shrine, the atmosphere shifted. The air was dense with energy, humming softly, and the walls seemed alive, glowing faintly with intricate, flowing patterns. It felt as though the shrine was watching him, testing him, waiting for him to falter.
He moved cautiously, his boots clicking against the smooth stone floor. The faint hum of energy grew louder with each step, resonating deep in his chest. At the end of the corridor, a large circular chamber opened up, empty except for a single pedestal in the center.
Upon the pedestal sat an orb, glowing faintly green, pulsating like a heartbeat.
As Raditz approached, a voice echoed in the chamber, low and resonant. It wasn't in any language he recognized, yet he understood it clearly.
"To seek strength without clarity is to build a fortress on shifting sands. Show us your truth, Saiyan."
The orb pulsed, and before Raditz could react, the energy lashed out, enveloping him. His vision blurred, and the chamber dissolved around him.
When his sight returned, Raditz found himself standing on a desolate planet. The sky was dark, and the air was thick with smoke. Around him were bodies—warriors, innocents, all victims of the Saiyan conquest.
He recognized the scene. It was one of his first missions with Vegeta and Nappa, a planet that had resisted their invasion. He remembered the thrill of the battle, the pride he felt in proving his strength.
But now, standing amidst the devastation, he felt no pride. Only guilt.
"Is this what you seek to protect?" the voice echoed again, cold and accusing. "A legacy of destruction?"
Raditz clenched his fists. "I didn't come here to justify my past. I came to change my future."
The scene shifted. Now he stood before his younger self, a brash, arrogant warrior wearing a sneer.
"You're weak," the younger Raditz spat. "You talk about change, but you're still chasing strength. What's different now?"
"I know strength alone isn't enough," Raditz replied, meeting his younger self's gaze. "That's why I'm here. I want to be better."
The younger Raditz laughed, his power flaring. "Show me, then! Prove you're better!"
Before Raditz could reply, his younger self attacked. The force of the blow sent him skidding back, and he barely managed to block the follow-up punch.
The fight was brutal. The younger Raditz was relentless, embodying the raw power and aggression of his Saiyan instincts. But as the battle raged, Raditz began to notice something.
His younger self fought without discipline, relying solely on brute strength and wild energy. It was the same flaw Kohra had pointed out in him.
"I see it now," Raditz muttered, dodging another strike. "You're just a beast, all rage and no control."
He steadied his breathing, drawing on the lessons Kohra had drilled into him. His movements became precise, his strikes deliberate. The balance of the fight shifted, and with one final blow, he brought his younger self to his knees.
"You've lost," Raditz said, standing tall. "Because I've learned what you never did: strength is nothing without control."
The younger Raditz faded away, and the scene dissolved back into the shrine. The orb on the pedestal glowed brighter, and the voice spoke again, no longer cold but approving.
"You have faced your past and embraced your flaws. Take this gift, Saiyan, and let it guide you on your path."
Raditz stepped forward, hesitating only for a moment before placing his hand on the orb. Energy surged into him, filling him with a warmth he hadn't felt before. It wasn't just power—it was clarity, a deeper understanding of himself and his potential.
When the glow faded, the pedestal was empty, and the orb was gone. But Raditz felt its presence within him, a quiet strength that bolstered his resolve.
As he left the shrine, the guardian Balgor waited for him, arms crossed. "You succeeded," he said, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Few have."
Raditz smirked. "I'm not just any Saiyan."
Balgor chuckled. "That, I believe. What will you do now?"
Raditz looked toward the horizon, where the Namekian villages lay and beyond them, the Dragon Balls. His power level had grown again, nearing 5,000, but it still paled in comparison to the enemies he would face.
"I'll keep training," he said. "But I won't hide anymore. If I want to protect what's important, I need to face it head-on."
Raditz stood outside the shrine, staring at the horizon. The trial had shaken something loose within him, an old resolve reignited by a newfound clarity. Time was slipping away, and while he'd made progress, he wasn't foolish enough to believe it was enough.
He had spent weeks on Namek, hiding and growing stronger. The peaceful Namekians had cautiously allowed him to stay after seeing he posed no immediate threat, though they kept their distance. They didn't fight him or challenge his presence but also made it clear they were wary of his intentions. Raditz respected their boundaries, knowing forcing himself upon them would only undo his progress.
Instead, he trained relentlessly. The techniques Kohra taught him had already begun to pay off. His movements were sharper, his energy manipulation more refined, and his ability to suppress his ki had reached a level where he could vanish entirely from most senses. He wasn't a ghost like Goku had been during his fights, but he was close.
Even so, every time Raditz closed his eyes, he could see Vegeta and Nappa's smirks. He knew their strength was still leagues above his own, and then there was Frieza—the tyrant who loomed over every Saiyan's past and present.
The time for waiting was over. The Dragon Balls were his only real shot at turning the tide. The Namekians had guarded their secrets closely, but Raditz had learned enough to understand that the seven spheres could grant any wish. He didn't need eternal life or boundless power. What he needed was an edge—an opportunity to rewrite the board before his enemies arrived.
Raditz approached Balgor, the Namekian elder who had reluctantly taken him under his wing. Balgor was sitting beneath an ajisa tree, meditating as always. His eyes opened when Raditz's shadow fell over him.
"You've made your decision," Balgor said calmly.
"I have," Raditz replied. "The Dragon Balls are my only chance to stand against what's coming. I'm leaving tonight."
Balgor studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "You've shown discipline in your time here, Saiyan. It's not my place to stop you, but remember this: the Dragon Balls are sacred to my people. Use them wisely, or you will answer for your actions."
Raditz inclined his head, a gesture of respect he rarely gave. "I understand. Thank you."
Under the cover of darkness, Raditz began his journey. He had mapped the locations of several Dragon Balls during his reconnaissance, using the faint energy signatures they emitted. Each one was guarded, either by a village or a natural obstacle, but Raditz was confident in his ability to overcome them.
The first few spheres were relatively easy to acquire. Raditz approached the villages cautiously, suppressing his power and showing humility. The Namekians, wary but not hostile, allowed him to take the orbs after he explained his intentions to protect their world from future invaders. They had little reason to trust him, but his sincerity and the trials he had endured seemed to convince them.
As he gathered the final Dragon Balls, Raditz's power continued to grow. His training and battles against natural predators on Namek pushed him to new heights. By the time he held the last sphere in his hands, his power level had risen to nearly 6,000—still far from Vegeta's 18,000 but a leap from where he had started.
Raditz stood in the clearing, the seven Dragon Balls assembled before him. Their golden glow illuminated the darkness around him, and the energy they emitted was palpable, thrumming with untapped power. Despite his excitement, Raditz felt a chill run down his spine. The gravity of this moment weighed heavily on him.
He raised his hands to summon the Eternal Dragon but hesitated. A glaring issue gnawed at the edges of his plan—he didn't know the Namekian language. One of the elders had mentioned in passing that the Dragon Balls responded only to their sacred tongue, a safeguard against outsiders abusing their power.
"Of course," Raditz muttered bitterly. "Nothing's ever simple."
Frustrated but undeterred, Raditz decided to seek help. He returned to the small village he had visited earlier, where the elder Balgor resided. The Namekian leader sat beneath his ajisa tree, as he often did, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to Raditz's simmering impatience.
"You've gathered the Dragon Balls," Balgor said without looking up, his antennae twitching slightly.
"I need your help," Raditz said bluntly. "I can't make the wish without your language."
Balgor's eyes opened, regarding him carefully. "And why should I aid you, Saiyan? The Dragon Balls are not tools for ambition or selfish desires."
Raditz crossed his arms, trying to suppress the irritation that bubbled within him. "I don't want immortality or unlimited power," he said. "I want a fighting chance. The forces heading this way will destroy your people if no one stops them. I'm not strong enough yet, but with your help, I can be."
The elder closed his eyes, his expression unreadable. After a long silence, he spoke. "Very well. But understand this: if your actions betray the trust I have placed in you, there will be consequences."
Raditz nodded. "Fair enough."
---
The two returned to the clearing, the Dragon Balls glowing brighter as they sensed the presence of their guardian. Balgor stepped forward, raising his hands toward the sky. His voice resonated as he chanted in the ancient Namekian tongue, calling forth the Eternal Dragon.
The sky darkened, and the wind howled as Porunga, the mighty Namekian dragon, emerged from the glowing orbs. Unlike the Eternal Dragon of Earth, Porunga's form was bulkier, his massive arms and torso radiating power. His deep voice boomed across the land.
"Speak your wishes. I shall grant them if they are within my power."
Raditz was taken aback by Porunga's imposing presence but quickly steeled himself. He turned to Balgor, who waited expectantly.
"Tell him this," Raditz said, his voice steady. "For the first wish, I want the knowledge and techniques of the greatest warriors in the universe. For the second, I want my strength and potential unlocked to their fullest. And for the third... I want you to ask something for your people."
Balgor raised an eyebrow at the last request but nodded. He relayed the first wish to Porunga, who listened intently. The dragon's eyes glowed as he processed the request.
"It is done," Porunga rumbled. Raditz staggered as a flood of information poured into his mind—martial techniques, energy control, strategies, and the wisdom of countless warriors. It was overwhelming, but he gritted his teeth and held on.
Balgor then made the second wish. Porunga's eyes glowed once more, and Raditz felt a surge of power course through his body. It was as if shackles he hadn't realized were there had been broken, allowing his energy to flow freely.
When it came to the final wish, Balgor paused. He spoke softly to Porunga in Namekian, and the dragon responded with a solemn nod.
"The wishes have been granted," Porunga declared. His massive form dissolved into light, and the Dragon Balls scattered across the planet, returning to their dormant state.
---
Raditz took a deep breath, his body still buzzing with newfound energy. He clenched his fists, marveling at the power now at his fingertips. His scouter had been damaged during his battles on Namek, but he could sense that his power level had skyrocketed—likely around 10,000, a leap far beyond what he had thought possible in such a short time.
"What did you ask for your people?" Raditz asked, turning to Balgor.
"That is not your concern," Balgor replied, his tone firm but not unkind. "You have your strength, Saiyan. Now prove that you are worthy of it."
Raditz smirked. "Don't worry. I plan to."
---
As Raditz left the clearing, his mind raced with possibilities. He had the knowledge of the greatest fighters and the power to back it up. But with Vegeta, Nappa, and Frieza still looming on the horizon, he couldn't let himself grow complacent.
Namek had been a turning point, but the real battle was still ahead.
"Frieza," Raditz muttered, looking up at the stars. "You have no idea what's coming for you."